Exponential leap-forward gradient scheme for determining the isothermal layer depth from profile data

Two distinct layers usually exist in the upper ocean. The first has a near-zero vertical gradient in temperature (or density) from the surface and is called the isothermal layer (or mixed layer). Beneath that is a layer with a strong vertical gradient in temperature (or density), called the thermocline (or pycnocline). The isothermal layer depth (ILD) or mixed layer depth (MLD) for the same profile varies depending on the method used to determine it. Also, whether they are subjective or objective, existing methods of determining the ILD do not estimate the thermocline (pycnocline) gradient. Here, we propose a new exponential leap-forward gradient (ELG) method of determining the ILD that retains the strengths of subjective (simplicity) and objective (gradient change) methods and avoids their weaknesses (subjective methods are threshold-sensitive and objective methods are computationally intensive). This new method involves two steps: (1) the estimation of the thermocline gradient G _th for an individual temperature profile, and (2) the computation of the vertical gradient by averaging over gradients using exponential leap-forward steps. Such averaging can filter out noise in the profile data. Five existing methods of determining the ILD (difference, gradient, maximum curvature, maximum angle, and optimal linear fitting methods) as well as the proposed ELG method were verified using global expendable bathythermograph (XBT) temperature and conductivity–temperature–depth (CTD) datasets. Among all the methods considered, the ELG method yielded the highest skill score and the lowest Shannon information entropy (i.e., the lowest uncertainty).     

Exponential model of the seasonal thermocline

An exponential model of the seasonal thermocline is suggested within the framework of an integral hydrodynamic model of the upper ocean. The seasonal thermocline is discriminated as a boundary layer of finite thickness against the background of an asymptotic boundary layer described by an exponent. A self-similar distribution of the dimensionless temperature versus dimensionless depth is found. Its comparison with the dependence obtained previously (cubic parabola) provides a deviation of 10%. Thus, the exponential model of the seasonal thermodcline describes perfectly the temperature-depth distribution using field data.Translated by Mikhail M. Trufanov.     

Winter-to-winter recurrence of sea surface temperature, salinity and mixed layer depth anomalies

The mean seasonal cycle of mixed layer depth (MLD) in the extratropical oceans has the potential to influence temperature, salinity and mixed layer depth anomalies from one winter to the next. Temperature and salinity anomalies that form at the surface and spread throughout the deep winter mixed layer are sequestered beneath the mixed layer when it shoals in spring, and are then re-entrained into the surface layer in the subsequent fall and winter. Here we document this ‘re-emergence mechanism’ in the North Pacific Ocean using observed SSTs, subsurface temperature fields from a data assimilation system, and coupled atmosphere–ocean model simulations. Observations indicate that the dominant large-scale SST anomaly pattern that forms in the North Pacific during winter recurs in the following winter. The model simulation with mixed layer ocean physics reproduced the winter-to-winter recurrence, while model simulations with observed SSTs specified in the tropical Pacific and a 50 m slab in the North Pacific did not. This difference between the model results indicates that the winter-to-winter SST correlations are the result of the re-emergence mechanism, and not of similar atmospheric forcing of the ocean in consecutive winters. The model experiments also indicate that SST anomalies in the tropical Pacific associated with El Niño are not essential for re-emergence to occur.The recurrence of observed SST and simulated SST and SSS anomalies are found in several regions in the central North Pacific, and are quite strong in the northern (>50°N) part of the basin. The winter-to-winter autocorrelation of SSS anomalies exceed those of SST, since only the latter are strongly damped by surface fluxes. The re-emergence mechanism also has a modest influence on MLD through changes in the vertical stratification in the seasonal thermocline.     

利用Argo剖面浮标分析上层海洋对台风“布拉万”的响应

In situ observations from Argo profiling floats combined with satellite retrieved SST and rain rate are used to investigate an upper ocean response to Typhoon Bolaven from 20 through 29 August 2012. After the passage of Typhoon Bolaven, the deepening of mixed layer depth(MLD), and the cooling of mixed layer temperature(MLT) were observed. The changes in mixed layer salinity(MLS) showed an equivalent number of increasing and decreasing because the typhoon-induced salinity changes in the mixed layer were influenced by precipitation, evaporation, turbulent mixing and upwelling of thermocline water. The deepening of the MLD and the cooling of the MLT indicated a significant rightward bias, whereas the MLS was freshened to the left side of the typhoon track and increased on the other side. Intensive temperature and salinity profiles observed by Iridium floats make it possible to view response processes in the upper ocean after the passage of a typhoon. The cooling in the near-surface and the warming in the subsurface were observed by two Iridium floats located to the left side of the cyclonic track during the development stage of the storm, beyond the radius of maximum winds relative to the typhoon center. Water salinity increases at the base of the mixed layer and the top of the thermocline were the most obvious change observed by those two floats. On the right side of the track and near the typhoon center when the typhoon was intensified, the significant cooling from sea surface to a depth of 200×104 Pa, with the exception of the water at the top of the thermocline, was observed by the other Iridium float. Owing to the enhanced upwelling near the typhoon center, the water salinity in the near-surface increased noticeably. The heat pumping from the mixed layer into the thermocline induced by downwelling and the upwelling induced by the positive wind stress curl are the main causes for the different temperature and salinity variations on the different sides of the track. It seems that more time is required for the anomalies in the subsurface to be restored to pretyphoon conditions than for the anomalies in the mixed layer.     

Interannual variability in the Mindanao Eddy and its impact on thermohaline structure pattern

The major feature,interannual variability and variation cause of the Mindanao Eddy and its impact on the thermohaline structure are analyzed based on the Argo profiling float data,the history observed data and the SODA data.The analysis results show that the Mindanao Eddy is a permanent cyclonic meso-scale eddy and spreads vertically from about 500 m depth upward do about 50 m depth.In addition to its strong seasonal variability,the Mindanao Eddy displays a remarkable interannual variability associated with ENSO.It strengthens and expands eastward during El Nin o while it weakens and retreats westward during La Nin a.The interannual variability in the Mindanao Eddy may be caused by the North Equatorial Counter Current,the North Equatorial Current,the Mindanao Current and the Indonesian Through Flow.The eddy variability can have a great influence on the thermohaline structure pattern in the local upper ocean.When the eddy is strong,the cold and low salinity water inside the eddy moves violently upward from deep layer,the thermocline depth greatly shoals,and the subsurface high salinity water largely decreases,with the upper mixed layer becoming thinner,and vice versa.     

Upper ocean high resolution regional modeling of the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal

In this paper, effort is made to demonstrate the quality of high-resolution regional ocean circulation model in realistically simulating the circulation and variability properties of the northern Indian Ocean(10°S–25°N,45°–100°E) covering the Arabian Sea(AS) and Bay of Bengal(BoB). The model run using the open boundary conditions is carried out at 10 km horizontal resolution and highest vertical resolution of 2 m in the upper ocean.The surface and sub-surface structure of hydrographic variables(temperature and salinity) and currents is compared against the observations during 1998–2014(17 years). In particular, the seasonal variability of the sea surface temperature, sea surface salinity, and surface currents over the model domain is studied. The highresolution model's ability in correct estimation of the spatio-temporal mixed layer depth(MLD) variability of the AS and BoB is also shown. The lowest MLD values are observed during spring(March-April-May) and highest during winter(December-January-February) seasons. The maximum MLD in the AS(BoB) during December to February reaches 150 m (67 m). On the other hand, the minimum MLD in these regions during March-April-May becomes as low as 11–12 m. The influence of wind stress, net heat flux and freshwater flux on the seasonal variability of the MLD is discussed. The physical processes controlling the seasonal cycle of sea surface temperature are investigated by carrying out mixed layer heat budget analysis. It is found that air-sea fluxes play a dominant role in the seasonal evolution of sea surface temperature of the northern Indian Ocean and the contribution of horizontal advection, vertical entrainment and diffusion processes is small. The upper ocean zonal and meridional volume transport across different sections in the AS and BoB is also computed. The seasonal variability of the transports is studied in the context of monsoonal currents.     

Effects of the surface wave-induced mixing on circulation in an isopycnal-coordinate oceanic circulation model

The influence of the nonbreaking surface wave-induced mixing under the mixed layer on the oceanic circulation was investigated using an isopycnal-coordinate oceanic circulation model. The effect of the wave-induced mixing within the mixed layer was eliminated via a bulk mixed layer model. The results show that the wave-induced mixing can penetrate through the mixed layer and into the oceanic interior. The wave-induced mixing under the mixed layer has an important effect on the distribution of temperature of the upper ocean at middle and high latitudes in summer, especially the structure of the seasonal thermocline. Moreover, the wave-induced mixing can affect the oceanic circulation, such as western boundary currents and the North Equatorial Currents through changes of sea surface height associated with the variation of the thermal structure of the upper ocean.     

声跃层结构变化对深海汇聚区声传播的影响

根据射线理论建立了线性声速结构条件下的声跃层强度与深海汇聚区关系模型,用最小位移角讨论了海洋环境变化（如声跃层强度变化、声跃层位置变化及季节性跃层生消等）与汇聚区距离和宽度变化的相关性.结果表明,声跃层的结构变化对汇聚区特征影响很大.声跃层强度增大使汇聚区向远离声源的方向变化,跃层强度每增加0.01 s-1对应的汇聚区位移增大约为3.5～5.0 km.声跃层位置变化对汇聚区的影响小于声跃层强度,与两层结构的声速剖面相比,上行结构使汇聚区向靠近声源的方向变化,声跃层上升200 m对应的汇聚区位移减小约为1.0～1.5 km,声跃层越浅,汇聚区距离越近;下行结构使汇聚区向远离声源的方向变化,混合层加深200 m对应的汇聚区位移增大约为1.0～1.5 km,混合层越深,汇聚区距离越远.季节性跃层的生消使近表层有负梯度、零梯度和正梯度的变化.负梯度结构的变化规律与两层结构条件下的声跃层强度变化类似,但对汇聚区的影响程度相对较小;正梯度结构使汇聚区在近表层出现表面声道,梯度值的增强将使汇聚区向靠近声源的方向变化.     

The effects on water mass formation of surface mixed layer timedependence and entrainment fluxes

An air-sea buoyancy flux out of the ocean between the surface outcroppings of different isopycnals must be balanced by a convergence of advective and diffusive fluxes of buoyancy across those isopycnals (Walin, 1982; Tziperman, 1986; Garrett et al., 1995). For steady conditions, the diapycnal diffusive flux due to vertical mixing in the surface mixed layer is very small, so that the advective buoyancy flux dominates (Speer, 1993; Garrett et al., 1995). The associated advective buoyancy flux can then be used to estimate the volume flux of water out of the base of the surface mixed layer. The resulting thermodynamic algorithm provides a valuable estimate of water mass formation in the ocean.In contrast, for the time-dependent real ocean with horizontal and vertical gradients of the horizontal buoyancy gradient, diurnal and seasonal mixed layer deepening and entrainment in the presence of a buoyancy jump at the base of the mixed layer contributes to the annual volume flux out of the base of the deepest (wintertime) mixed layer. The mismatch between the predictions of the ideal algorithm and measured rates of water mass formation (Speer, 1997) may thus be partly due to mixed layer processes rather than diapycnal mixing in the thermocline.     

浅海双跃层脉冲声传播

利用在东海测量的双跃层声速剖面和修改的单跃层声速剖面,数值模拟了2种跃层条件下不同收发深度声脉冲传播的波形。模拟结果表明,当声源或接收器位于上混合层时,信号波形在2种条件下都出现梳状多途结构。当声源和接收器都位于下混合层时,信号波形在2种条件下均相似。当声源位于中间均匀层时,信号波形在除上混合层以外的4层都有显著差异。用简正波的深度-简正波号域的幅度和相应的群速度解释了双跃层和单跃层声速剖面条件下信号波形特点以及异同的原因。     

南大洋混合层的时空变化特征

过去对南大洋的研究受限于长期观测的缺乏,而现在地转海洋学实时观测阵(Arrayfor Real-timeGeostrophicOceanography,Argo)项目自开始以来持续提供了高质量的温度盐度观测,使系统地研究南大洋海洋上层结构成为可能。本研究使用2000—2018年的Argo浮标观测数据,分析了南大洋混合层深度(Mixed Layer Depth, MLD)的时空分布特征。结果表明:南大洋混合层存在明显的季节变化,冬春两季MLD在副南极锋面北侧达到最高值并呈带状分布,夏秋两季由于海表加热导致混合层变浅,季节变化幅度达到400m以上;在年际尺度上,MLD受南半球环状模(Southern HemisphereAnnularMode,SAM)调制,呈现纬向不对称空间分布特征,这与前人结果一致;本文指出在所研究时段,南大洋混合层在90°E以东,180°以西有加深趋势,而在60°W以西,180°以东有变浅趋势,显示出偶极子分布特征,并且这种趋势特征主要是风场的作用。     

热力学效应及斯托克斯漂流对混合层影响的研究

本文通过理想化的外部强迫以及海洋站点实测数据驱动普林斯顿海洋模式来研究海洋热力学效应和斯托克斯漂流对上混合层数值模拟的影响。在Mellor-Yamada湍流闭合方案中，经常出现夏季海表面温度偏暖和混合层深度偏浅的模拟误差。实验表明，斯托克斯漂流在冬季和夏季均能增强湍流动能，加深混合层深度。这种效应可以改善夏季的模拟结果，但与观测数据相比，将增大冬季混合层深度的模拟误差。斯托克斯漂流可以通过增强湍动能来加深混合层深度。结果表明，将斯托克斯漂流与冷皮层和暖层对上部混合层的热效应相结合，可以正确地模拟混合层深度。在夏季，海洋冷皮层和暖层通过“阻挡结构”和双温跃层结构模拟出更真实的上混合层变化。在冬季，海洋热力学效应通过增强上层海洋层结平衡了斯托克斯漂流的影响，并且由斯托克斯漂流引起的过度混合被校正。     

Parameterization of the depth of the upper quasi-homogeneous layer based on measurements in the North Atlantic (Section along 53° N)

The dependence of the variation in the depth of the upper mixed layer (MLD) on the governing parameters (the momentum flux, the buoyancy fluxes at the ocean surface, and the density gradient in the pycnocline) is considered. It is shown that, in the spring storm season, wind mixing dominates over convective mixing. In this case, the MLD is linearly correlated with the Ekman scale calculated from the friction velocity observed approximately 12 h before the measurement of the MLD.     

基于ROMS模型数值研究南海温跃层的季节变化

On the basis of the regional ocean modeling system （ROMS）, the seasonal variations of the thermocline in the South China Sea （SCS） were numerically investigated. The simulated hydrodynamics are in accordance with previous studies： the circulation pattern in the SCS is cyclonic in winter and anticyclonic in summer, and such a change is mostly driven by the monsoon winds. The errors between the modeled temperature profiles and the observations obtained by cruises are quite small in the upper layers of the ocean, indicating that the ocean status is reasonably simulated. On the basis of the shapes of the vertical temperature profiles, five thermocline types （shallow thermocline, deep thermocline, hybrid thermocline, double thermocline, and multiple thermocline） are defined herein. In winter, when the northeasterly monsoon prevails, most shallow shelf seas in the northwest of the SCS are well mixed, and there is no obvious thermocline. The deep region generally has a deep thermocline, and the hybrid or double thermocline often occurs in the areas near the cold eddy in the south of the SCS. In summer, when the southwesterly monsoon prevails, the shelf sea area with a shallow thermocline greatly expands. The distribution of different thermocline types shows a relationship with ocean bathymetry： from shallow to deep waters, the thermocline types generally change from shallow or hybrid to deep thermocline, and the double or multiple thermocline usually occurs in the steep regions. The seasonal variations of the three major thermocline characteristics （the upper bound depth, thickness, and intensity） are also discussed. Since the SCS is also an area where tropical cyclones frequently occur, the response of thermocline to a typhoon process in a short time scale is also analyzed.     

长山群岛海区春季水温垂直结构分析

利用海军大连舰艇学院2006年4月长山群岛海区的CTD调查资料,系统分析了该季节长山群岛海区的温度垂直结构,并探讨了其形成机理。分析指出:4月上、中旬是长山群岛海区季节性温跃层的生成期,群岛东侧和南侧边缘受黄海冷水团形成过程的影响,温跃层的出现概率和跃层强度都远远高于群岛内部;在生成时机上,群岛东侧和南侧边缘海域早于群岛内部水域。中间层和底层海水温度的垂直结构与海流有着很好的相关性,在海洋平流的作用下,海区会产生正跃层、逆跃层、冷中间层、暖中间层等复杂的温度垂直结构。上层海水温度结构主要受海面风场和气温的影响,较强的热辐射和充分的风力搅拌能够加速温跃层的生成。     

Temporal variability of winter mixed layer in the mid-to high-latitude North Pacific

Temperature and salinity data from 2001 through 2005 from Argo profiling floats have been analyzed to examine the time evolution of the mixed layer depth (MLD) and density in the late fall to early spring in mid to high latitudes of the North Pacific. To examine MLD variations on various time scales from several days to seasonal, relatively small criteria (0.03 kg m⁻³ in density and 0.2°C in temperature) are used to determine MLD. Our analysis emphasizes that maximum MLD in some regions occurs much earlier than expected. We also observe systematic differences in timing between maximum mixed layer depth and density. Specifically, in the formation regions of the Subtropical and Central Mode Waters and in the Bering Sea, where the winter mixed layer is deep, MLD reaches its maximum in late winter (February and March), as expected. In the eastern subarctic North Pacific, however, the shallow, strong, permanent halocline prevents the mixed layer from deepening after early January, resulting in a range of timings of maximum MLD between January and April. In the southern subtropics from 20° to 30°N, where the winter mixed layer is relatively shallow, MLD reaches a maximum even earlier in December–January. In each region, MLD fluctuates on short time scales as it increases from late fall through early winter. Corresponding to this short-term variation, maximum MLD almost always occurs 0 to 100 days earlier than maximum mixed layer density in all regions.     

Observation of the disturbances occurring in a discontinuity layer of Lake Biwa-Ko

Short-period temperature fluctuations were observed in the uppermost region of the seasonal thermocline in Lake Biwa-Ko, under the existence of the strong wind-stirring. In the observation period, the temperature profile had a sharp discontinuity at the bottom of the surface mixed layer, and a large gradient in the discontinuity layer of about 2-m thickness. The most dominant disturbances occurred in the discontinuity layer had the period of 2 to 3 minutes and the amplitude of about 1 m. They occurred intermittently with 5-to 15-minute intervals, and the growth and decay cycles were repeated locally. On the basis of these results, it is suggested that they were caused by the shear instability, and that such disturbances may control the erosion process of the seasonal thermocline.     

ENSO事件非对称性成因研究

利用NCEP、SODA等再分析资料,对东太平洋上层海洋的热量收支进行了计算,研究了产生ENSO冷暖事件强度非对称的可能原因。对海表温度异常(SSTA)的分析发现,在东太平洋SSTA存在明显的正偏,即El Nio事件中正异常的幅度大于La Nia事件中负异常的幅度,体现出ENSO事件的非对称性。通过对上层海洋热量收支的计算发现,造成ENSO事件非对称性的可能原因有3个:(1) 非线性温度平流,水平非线性温度平流在ENSO冷暖事件中均为正值,因此增强El Nio事件而减弱La Nia事件;(2) 次表层温度异常对温跃层深度异常的非线性响应,由于东太平洋温度剖面的特性,使得次表层温度异常对El Nio期间正的温跃层深度变化更为敏感,造成次表层温度异常幅度在El Nio期间比La Nia期间大,从而通过－wT′_z项引起上层海温的非对称性;(3) 赤道太平洋的纬向风异常的正偏:由于赤道太平洋存在较强的纬向西风,导致东太平洋温跃层深度异常正偏,进而造成次表层温度异常的非对称－wT′_z,并通过项影响上层海温的非对称性。     

Impacts of a wind stress and a buoyancy flux on the seasonal variation of mixing layer depth in the South China Sea

The seasonal variation of mixing layer depth(MLD) in the ocean is determined by a wind stress and a buoyance flux.A South China Sea(SCS) ocean data assimilation system is used to analyze the seasonal cycle of its MLD.It is found that the variability of MLD in the SCS is shallow in summer and deep in winter,as is the case in general.Owing to local atmosphere forcing and ocean dynamics,the seasonal variability shows a regional characteristic in the SCS.In the northern SCS,the MLD is shallow in summer and deep in winter,affected coherently by the wind stress and the buoyance flux.The variation of MLD in the west is close to that in the central SCS,influenced by the advection of strong western boundary currents.The eastern SCS presents an annual cycle,which is deep in summer and shallow in winter,primarily impacted by a heat flux on the air-sea interface.So regional characteristic needs to be cared in the analysis about the MLD of SCS.     

Research on the Propagation Acting of the Equatorial Planetary Waves on the Western Equatorial Pacific Warm Pool Heat

1 IntroductionIn the Equatorial Pacific, due to the difference between the atmospheric circulation and air-sea interaction, the near-surface seawater heat structure in the eastern and western Pacific presents two ℃obviously different characteristics: warm pool ( > 28 ) in the western equatorial Pacific and cold ℃tongue ( < 24 ) in the eastern equatorial Pacific. The water bodies of these two heat structures would give rise to change in spatial distribution under the action of the equato…